Britain relaxes travel warning on Kenya

The British government on Thursday relaxed travel advisory on Kenya to its nationals against travelling to the coastal resorts, which had experienced a slump in tourist numbers.

A statement from the British High Commission in Nairobi said advice against travel to the stretch of coast including Mombasa County, Kilifi County and Watamu town has been removed. This also includes Kenya's popular safari destinations in the national parks, reserves and wildlife conservancies.

However, warnings will remain in place for areas including Nairobi's Eastleigh suburb which is inhabited largely by Kenyans of Somali origin.

The travel advisory that was issued approximately a year ago has dealt a major blow to the already struggling tourism sector that relies on foreign visitors.

In March, Britain renewed its warnings, advising its citizens to be careful while visiting Nairobi, Mombasa and outskirts, Lamu county and parts of Tana River county in the coastal region.

Visitors were also then advised to avoid highway from Isiolo to Moyale in northern Kenya and border regions with Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia as well some parts of the coastal town of Lamu, Mombasa and Nairobi.

Last week, the British government said travel advisories cautioning its citizens against travelling to Kenya will only be lifted if security improves in parts of country listed in the advisories. Endi